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Lancaster company closing; 114 jobs lost

Written by Trent Faris

LANCASTER, SC (WBTV)  There has been another devastating blow for what has been called America's most economically vulnerable town. 

Industrial manufacturer Joslyn Clark Controls Inc. is closing its Lancaster, South Carolina plant, leaving 114 people without a job.

More than 12 percent of the population is unemployed.  The town is located far away from Interstate 77 and that keeps many travelers away. 

Small business owners say the layoff is just bad news for the local economy.

Kay Goff bought Riverside Grocery and Grill in January.  She hoped the grill would be a good means of making a decent living from crowds from the local businesses.

"They come over to get lunch, a lot of snacks, a lot of gas," says Goff.

Now, Joslyn Clark Control Inc. is closing up shop.  Goff says this will take away about 100 customers which is a third of her daily lunch crowd.

"Not having that many employees around is going to hurt my business," says Goff.

Dean Faile works at the the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce.  She says replacing those jobs is going to hurt because the county is already hurting economically with a 12.6 percent unemployment rate.

"In today's economy, any county would be pulling your leg if they said it wouldn't be difficult," says Faile.

The good news is that last year the Lancaster Economic Development Commission attracted more businesses to Lancaster than what they lost.  The problem is those businesses don't employ big numbers.

"You're finding more 25, 30, you know 50 or under, small nimble easy to relocate easy to get started", says Faile.

Those jobs are highly skilled positions in which most folks in an old textile mill town wouldn't qualify for.  

The Chamber believes the loss of Joslyn Clark Inc. is just a road bump.  Officials say the county has bottomed out and is on the way up.